Wike Plans Loans For Transporters

There is an indication that
Rivers State under Governor Nyesom Wike might float a Transport Loan scheme as a way of partnering with indigenous transporters to develop the transport sector in the state.
Wike gave this indication when representatives of Indigenous Transport Owners Association of Niger Delta (ITOAND) paid him a visit Monday in Government House, Port Harcourt.
The President of ITOAND Prince Emmanuel Ogba, disclosed this in an interview with The Tide at the weekend in Port Harcourt.
Ogba explained that the scheme which would commence next year, was designed mainly for Rivers indigenes as well as other transporters in the state.
The ITOAND boss told The Tide that transporters in the country were patriotic Nigerians in view of their decision to operate with same transport fare even when the cost of Petrol has appreciated by over 100 per cent.
“Most Nigerians had expressed fear that transport fare would increase in respect of the upward review of fuel price, but we had continued to operate at same faire”, he said.
Ogba expressed dismay over the increasing cost of locally produced products and services in the name of recession.
“The use of economic recession to increase price by groups of traders is common and unjust. I advise other traders to refrain from worsening the situation through arbitrary increase of prices”, he said.
He, however, stated that any slight increase in petroleum products prices might lead to increase in transport fare stressing that, should the fare remain same when Federal Government increased further the petrol price, the transport would be operating at a loss.

Chris Oluoh